Point-Slope Form
Linear Equations in
Two Variables
What we Know so far….
Slope Intercept Form
y  mx  b
Where m is the slope and b
is the intercept
The New Stuff… Point- Slope Form
Point- Slope form is:
y  y1  m( x  x1 )
Where m is the slope
and (x1, y1) is the
given point
Write the Equation in Point-Slope Form
1
m   and (1,6)
3
Step 1: Plug it in
y  y1  m( x  x1 )
Point- Slope Form
Slope – Intercept Form
A linear equation written in the form
y – y1 = m(x – x1) is in point-slope form.
The graph of this equation is a line with slope m
passing through the point (x1, y1).
Plot the point, then rise & run from there….
y
Example:
The graph of the equation
8
1
y – 3 = - (x – 4) is a line
2
1
4
of slope m = -
2
m=-
1
2
(4, 3)
passing
x
through the point (4, 3).
4
5
8
Using Point-Slope Form
We need the slope and a point:
5
4
3
2
1
-5
-4 -3 -2 -1
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
Plug them into the
point-slope form
(2,2)
1 2 3
4
5
m  and ( 2,2)
2
5
y  y1  m( x  x1 )
Point – Slope Form
5
y  2  ( x  2)
2
Example: Write the point-slope form for the equation of the
line through the point (-2, 5) with a slope of 3.
Use the point-slope form, y – y1 = m(x – x1), with m = 3 and
(x1, y1) = (-2, 5).
y – y1 = m(x – x1)
y – 5 = 3(x – (-2))
Let m = 3, let (x1, y1) = (-2, 5).
y – 5 = 3(x + 2)
Simplify into point-slope form
7
Given two points, write the equation of a
line in point-slope form
(2,-3) and (4,-2)
Steps:
1. Find slope
2. Place a point and
2  3 2  3 1 the slope in into point


slope form
4 2
2
2
y  y1  m(x  x1 )
1
y  3  (x  2)
2
1
y  3  (x  2)
2
3. Point-Slope form
1
y  3  ( x  2)
2
Solve for y
& get ..
Slope-intercept form
y
1
x4
2
To write point-slope into slope-intercept:
Simplify using distributive property,
then move the constant to the right
side & combine like terms
5
y  2  ( x  2)
2
5
y  ( x  2)  2
2
5
y  x52
2
5
y  x3
2
Example: Write the slope-intercept form for the
equation of the line through the points (4, 3) and (-2, 5).
5–3 =- 2 =- 1
m=
-2 – 4
6
3
Calculate the slope.
y – y1 = m(x – x1)
y–3=-
Point-slope form
1
1
Use m = - and the point (4, 3).
(x – 4)
3
3
Solve for y…
y = - 1 x + 13
3
3
Slope-intercept form
10
A Challenge
Can you write the equation of a line in point-slope
form that passes through (-3,6) and (1,-2)
6+2 =- 8 =- 2
m=
-3 – 1
4
1
y – y1 = m(x – x1)
y + 2 = - 2 (x – 1)
Calculate the slope.
Use m = - 2 and the point (1, -2).
Point-Slope Form
y = -2(x – 1) - 2
y = -2x + 2 - 2
y = -2x + 0
Slope-Intercept Form
y = -2x